Refrigerating apparatus



Dec. 27, 1932. H. B. HULL 1,892,346

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed March 31, 1928 INVENTOR. $4 M. B

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 21, -1932 UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE may a. nun, or DAYTON, 01110, ASSIGNOB r: ri'IerDAraE conronA'noN, or DAYTON, 01110, A OOBPORATION or DELAWARE BEFBIGEBATIN G APPABA'IUS Application .flled Iarcli a1, 1928. Serial ll'o. acme.

This invention relates to improvements in refrigerating apparatus and particularly to harvesting ice or'the like.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved method and means for removing congealed substances from the receptacles in which they are frozen.

With this object'in view, the invention contemplates providing a source of controllable heating fluid which iseasily and safely controlled and adapted to cause the removal of the congealed substance from the receptacle. It is a further object of the invention to arrange the structure of the apparatus so that ordinarily the source of controlled heat need not be used for removing the con ealed material but so that it may be selective y operated only when an extremely rapid removal of the congealed substance from the containers is desired, the normal removal of the congealed substance being effected by exposing the same for a relatively longer'period to another source of heatwithin the cabinet.

In carrying out these objects, the vessel containing the congealed substance is warmed preferably within the cabinet by controllable heat which may-he derived from any suitable to freeze substances such as water or desserts Fig. 3 shows a diagrammatic representation of the refrigerating and heating circuit used, and

Fig. 4 illustrates a form of heat controlsuitable for use with the circuit of Fig. 3.

In mechanical refrigerators 1t is customary in molds usually carried in trays or the like. The congealed substance adheres very tenaciously to the walls of the mold and it is quite a troublesome operation to remove the same. The ordinary method of removing the congealed substance consists in removing the tray or receptacle from the cabinet and holding the same in an inverted position under a stream of relatively warm tap water and removing the ice manually and storin the same in suitable containers within the re rigerator.

This method of removing the ice is, however,

quite inconvenient.

Re erring to the drawing, for the purpose of i1 strating one form of my invention, I have shown a refrigerator cabinet containing a cooling unit or refrigerating element for freezing water, desserts, etc.. This cooling unit is operatively connected with a compressor and condenser. A container is ar-. ranged. preferably within the cabinet, and ada ted to receive a relatively warm fluid derlved from the condenser. This flow of fluid is controlled by a valve which is arranged so that when a tray of ice is placed in heat exchange relation to the container the valve will beopened to rmit the flow of fluid into the container to t us heat and permit withdrawal of the ice. Preferably the container is arranged in the path of flow of relatively warmair within the cabinet so that this warm air will cause the ice to melt and release from the ice tray after a course of time but if rapid release is desired, the valve is moved'to cause the warm fluid of the system to enter the heating'container. V

, Referring in .detailto the drawing the refrigerator in which the ice harvesting arrangement of the invention is embodied comprises a cabinet 10 having heat insulated walls 11 provided with an exterior metal finish 12 and. an interior metal lining 13. The interior of the cabinet is divided into a refrigerating compartment 14 and a storage or cooling compartment 15. Within the refrigerating .com artment there is mounted a refrigerating e ement ofany suitable tygle, the particular one chosen for illustrating t e invention comprises an expansion device such as an evaporator 16 with which is associated in refrigeratioh producing relation a coil 17 or the like. A casing 18 which is adapted to enshroud the evaporator 16 and its associated coil forms a container which may be filled with a cold hold-over medium such as brine. A compartment 40 provides means for housing a plurality of trays 19 which are filled with the liquid to be congealed. A

casing 20 is placed around the refrigerating .by arrow 24. A portion of the warm air passes between the top of the'refrigerator and the top of the brine tank as indicated by arrow 25 and passes down as indicated by arrows 26 and 27 into the food storage compartment.

In harvesting the congealed substance in accordancewith the arrangement of the present invention, a tray 19 containing ice or the like is inverted and placed in the inverted position on a frame located at the upper portion of the refrigerating compartment and directly in the path of the relatively warm air streaming in as indicated by arrow 25. This frame is composed of bracket members 28 and 29 suitably fastened to the top wall of the refrigerator as by bolts 30.

A recess is provided in the top of the brine tank 18 within which a wire mesh basket 31 may be mounted toserve as an ice catching and storage means. The inverted tray-is allowed to remain on the bracket exposed to the influence of the relatively warm air coming from the storage compartment 15 until the ice becomes detached from the tray and drops into the catching basket 31 from which it may be removed as needed.

In some cases, however, it may not be convenient to wait until the ice has become detached by exposure to the warm air and-in such a case use may be made of the novel arrangement intended for effecting a more rapld release of the ice.

* This arrangement comprises a-heati ng device ,or element-to whose influence the tray I is exposed and whose duration of operation can be readily controlled and which in the embodiment shown in the'drawingconsists of a container 32 mounted in any suitable manner as within the brackets 28 and 29 above described and which has downwardly extending hollow walls 33 adapted to surthe tray. This container is connected with a source of hot fluid preferably hot gas such as that coming from the high pressure side of a compressor-condenser-expander refrigerating circuit as shown in Fig. 3. This connection is effected through intermediary of a spring-pressed valve 34 which is adapted to keep the hot fluid circulating through the container as long as the valve is manipulated.

The valve itself may be of any suitable type but a preferredembodiment is shown in Fig. 4 which consists of a structure 36, preferably a casting, having an inlet opening 38 and an outlet opening 39 which are closed off from each other by a valve head 37 coopcrating with a seat in the central portion of the structure 36. The valve head 37 is normally urged to its seat by a spring 41 and is carried by an operating member 35 which in turn carries a compressible flexible metal bellows 42 which will not permit the escape of gas or the like into the atmosphere. Plate 43 is secured to the valve seat body structure 36 by means'of screws 44 and serves to permit the valve to be mounted within the cabinet as by means of ear 45 as well as for permitting access tothe valve head 37 in case adj ustment thereof is necessary.

The refrigerating circuit shown in'Fig. 3 may comprise a compressor 46 operated by an electric motor 60. In the operation of the system, liquid refrigerant which is present in the evaporator 16, boils off therein and in the coils associated therewith and producesits refrigerating effect in thewell known manner. The vaporized refrigerant is withsponsive device 53 connected to the suction line 47 is used to control the motor circuit in response tothe refrigerating action of the evaporator 16. s

\ The container 32 is connected into the refrigerating circuit and in the preferred em bodiment of the invention by means of pipe '54 coming from the hottest side of the line.

The hot fluid is led into container 32 through valve 34- and pipe 55. The container 32 is connected with the return or suction side of the refrigerating circuit by pipe 56.

By merely pressing the, tray against the push button 35 of the valve, gas of relatively high temperature will be allowed to pass from the line 54 to the container 32 and will continue flowing into the container as long.

The relatively will thus rapidly release the ice contained in the latter and cause the same to fall into the catching means 31 described above. As soon as the user ceases pushing against the tray, the valve will close and the flow of gas will be instantly interrupted.

As above indicated in the operation of the ice-harvesting arrangement of the invention, the user places the tray" 19 containing congealed material in an inverted position in the frame adjacent the source of controlled heat and if the need for ice is not immediate, the door of the cabinet is closed and the tray is allowed to absorb heat from the relatively warm air circulating from the food storage compartment 15 in accordance with arrow 25. If the demand for ice is urgent, it is merely necessary for the user to push the tray towards the rear of the cabinet to operate the valve which turns on the controlled heat which in turn exerts its effect on the tray and causes the icetherein to be released in an extremely short space of time.

The recess within the brine tank 18 is preferably located substantially below the path of the relatively warm air which passes over the inverted ice-containing tray so that the released ice contained in the catching means 31 disposed in this recess will not be melted by exposure to such warm air, the bottom of the walls of this recess being formed in the brine tank of the refrigerating element are of course cold enough to preserve the ice.

The wall.57 of this recess preferably slopes slightly and preferably downwardly toward the rear to serve as a draining means for water dripping from the catching means 31.

The method herein described of harvesting ice provides a convenient means for insuring a constant supply of ice. All of the harvesting operations may be carried out within the cabinet and the convenience of.

the arrangement is clearly apparent since it is not necessary t0,oarry the tray away from the cabinet, to hold it under tap water and return the released ice to the refrigerator in another container.

While I have'shown, for the purpose of illustrating the invention. a system in which the heat is derived from the warm refrigerant of the system. it is to be understood that such heat may be derived from another source which may be extraneous of the refrigerating system or may be a part of the system, as for example. such heat may be derived from the water which is used to cooLa watercooled condenser or compressor.

While the form of embodiment of the in- I ventionas herein disclosed constitutes a prefer-red form. it is to be understood that. other forms might be adopted. all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

' means for vreleasin a receptacle containing a congealed substance, of means for releasing said substance from the rece tacle when inverted, said means comprising a container adapted to contain a warm fluid, and adapted to receive said receptacle, and a valve actuated by the movement of the receptacle within the container and into contact with the valve for admitting warm fluidto said container.

2. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet havinga food storage compartment, a refrigerating circuit, a refrigerating element forming part of said circuit and positioned within the food storage compartment for cooling said compartment, areceptacle' for holding substances to be congealed, means within the food storage compartment for releasing the congealed substances from said receptacle comprising a plurality of sources of heat for heating said receptacle, one of said sources being controllable and including means for receiving a hot-fluid from the refrigerating circuit.

3. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet having a food storage compartment, 9. re frigerating circuit, a refrigerating element forming part of said circuit and positioned "within the food storage compartment for cooling said compartment, a receptacle'supported within the compartment for holding substances to be congealed, means within the food storage compartment forreleasing the congealed substances from said receptacle comprising a plurality of sources of heat for heating said receptacle, one of said sources being controllable and including means for receiving hot refrigerant from the refriger- .ating circuit.

4. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet, a refrigerating element adapted to cool said cabinet, a receptacle adapted as contain a substance to congealed by the refrigerat ing element, a controllable heat exchange means for heating the congealed substance for releasing same from said receptacle, said heat exchange means'including a container adapted to contain and receive hot gas from a portion of the refrigerating circuit, anl means within the cabinet for receiving the substance released from the receptacle.

5. :Arefrigerator comprising a cabinet, a

refrigerating system including a refrigerating element adapted to cool said cabinet,'a receptacle adapted to contain a substance to be congealed by said refrigerating element, the congealed substance from said receptac e including a support for the receptacle, said support being disposed in the path of warm air in said cabinet where by to normallyand gradually warm said receptacle, and a second source of heat adapted to be rendered operative to rapidly heat said receptacle to release said substance, said source of heat comprising a member heated tem.

by a relatively warm fluid circuit of the sys- 6. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination a cabinet, a refrigeratmg compartment therein, a refrigerating element within said compartment, a receptacle adapted to contain a congealed substance, means associated with the refrigerating element for holding said receptacle in inyerted position in the path of circulating relatively warm air, independent heating means disposed adjacent said inverted receptacle, said heating means comprising a container, means for supplying said container with relatively hot gas from the refrigerating circuit and means carried by said supporting means for operating said heating means.

be frozen and exposed in freezing relation to a relatively coldportion of said unit, means associated with said unit for holding said receptacle upon removal from said cold portion, means for releasing the congealed material from said receptacle, said means comprising a heat exchan device disposed in heat transmitting relation to said receptacle, a valve adapted to be operated by pressing said receptacle against said valve, said valve comprising a valve head, a valve seat cooperating with said head, resilient means normall urging said head against said seat, a flexi le metal bellows connected with said valve structure adapted to permit removal of said valve head from said seat without leakage when said receptacle is pressed against said metal bellows.

9. In a mechanical refrigerator, a refrigerating circuit comprising an evaporator,

means for supplying refrigerating medium to and withdrawing such medium from the evaporator, a receptacle adapted to contain a substance to be frozen through the influence of said evaporator, means adapted to be associated with the receptacle and subjected to {the heat of a relatively warm fluid of the circuit for releasing the substance "from said receptacle and means in heat exchange relation with the eva orator for catching the Substance released rom the receptacle.

10. In a mechanical refrigerator, a cabinet having a food storage compartment therein, a refrigerating system comprising high and low pressureportions, an evaporator in said low pressure portion,,said evaporator being positioned within said compartment and said high pressure portion being situated without said compartment, a receptacle supported within said compartment and adapted to contain a substance to be frozen through the influence of said evaporator, and means adapt- 7 ed to be associated with the receptacle and subjected to the temperature of refrigerant medium in the high pressure portion.

11. In a refrigerator, the combination with a receptacle containing a congealed substance, of means for heating said substance, said means comprising a container adapted to contain a warm fluid, and adapted to receive said receptacle, and a valve actuated by the movement'of the receptacle within, the container and into contact with the valve for admitting warm fluid to said container.

12. In a refrigerator, the combination with a a receptacle containing a congealed substance, of means for releasing said substance, said means comprising a container adapted tocon tain a warm fluid, means for supporting said receptacle in heat exchange relation to said container, and a valve actuated by the movement of said receptacle with respect to the container and into contact with the valve for supporting means.

14. In a mechanical refrigerator, a refrigerating system having a warm portion containing a relatively-warm fluid. areceptacle adapted to contain a substance to be frozen, means for supporting the receptacle in inverted position, a fluid circuit having its inlet connected with a warm portion of said refrigerating system and being normally closed off therefrom. and means for establishing flow of refrigerating fluid from the refrigerating system-through-said fluid circuit for releasing a frozen substance from the receptacle, and means beneath the receptacle supporting mains for catching the released substance. Y

15. In a mechanical refrigerator, a-refrigerating system having a warm portion containing a relatively warm fluid, a receptacle adapted to contain a substance to be frozen, means for supporting the receptacle, a fluid circuit having its inletconnected with a warm ceptacle is moved upon its supporting means.-

16. In a mechanical refrigerator a refrigerating circuit including an evaporator, means for circulating refrigerant through said evaporator, a conduit for conducting refrigerant to said evaporator, a receptacle adapted to contain a congealed substance, means for heating said receptacle including heating means connected to said circuit in parallel circuit relation with said evaporator and in heat exchange relation with said receptacle, and means operated by the receptacle when said receptacle is placed in heat exchange relationship with said heating means for controlling said heating means.

In testimonv whereof I hereto affix my signature.

HARRY B. HULL. 

